Amid a historic crisis, billionaires are keeping their money to themselves.

By Michael Hobbes

03/26/2020

The coronavirus pandemic is the perfect opportunity for billionaires to justify their existence.

For years, wealthy Americans have argued that philanthropy was essential to a functioning society. In contrast to unwieldy, inefficient government programs, private donors have the ability to take swift action and deliver social impact free of bureaucracy.

“My wife and I set up a foundation about 20 years ago,” computer magnate Michael Dell said last year in response to a Democratic proposal to enact a wealth tax. “I feel much more comfortable with our ability as a private donation to allocate those funds than I do giving them to the government.”

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and Starbucks founder Howard Schultz made the same case, arguing that taxing wealth robs billionaires of their capacity to invest in private and public innovation. Philanthropy, Bill Gates said when asked about a wealth tax at The New York Times’ Dealbook conference last year, “plays a role that neither the private sector or the government is able to do.”

The prime minister unveiled a new benefit to streamline aid for Canadians who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19.

Dubbed the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, the aid will replace the two announced last week as part of a $82-billion funding package.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled the new benefit Wednesday during his now-daily press conference on the steps of Rideau Cottage in Ottawa.

The aid will provide $2,000 per month, last for four months and applications should be available on April 6, Trudeau said. The money will be paid out every four weeks and be available from March 15 until October 3.

Everyday the housing crisis related to COVID-19 crisis gets worse and worse. It is impacting tenants, homeless New Yorkers, public housing residents, and homeowners across the State.

Housing is healthcare. An eviction moratorium is the first step, but right now it’s critical that every New Yorker is safely housed, especially those who are currently without homes or most in danger of losing their homes due to loss of income. We are calling on Governor Cuomo and state legislative leaders to implement an immediate suspension of rent, mortgage, and utility payments, a full moratorium on evictions/foreclosures-- for renters and homeowners, and investment in safe, affordable housing for every New Yorker.

Working people across New York State are facing lay-offs and struggling to pay rent and buy basic necessities. This problem will not disappear once the threat of COVID-19 has passed, and the eviction moratorium is lifted. Forgiving rent and mortgage debt accumulated during this period will help keep New Yorkers in their homes and stabilize our economy and our state.

Now is the time to create permanent housing for homeless New Yorkers. It’s immoral and wrong for the state to keep any homeless New Yorkers in tightly-packed shelters where coronavirus can spread rapidly. All homeless New Yorkers should be moved to safe, quality housing as fast as possible.

Trump is a threat to humanity. George W Bush and Obama should speak jointly on this danger. It is not a time to employ the calculations of politics, nor give the benefit of the doubt that as president he should not be criticized by his predecessors.

Its not an exaggeration, he is fueling the virus and that is a threat to our national security. Please make your concerns and demands known.